Apparatus for producing and treating gas



Nov, 29, 1927. LfiSOfiM H. A. DREFFEHN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND TREATING GAS Filed Sept. 30, 1922 2 Sheets-$hee$ l S N M f 0. U 5y UQWAQM 80 ml 3- Nov, 29, 1927.

H. A. DREFFEIN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND TREATING GAS MVMM M MNQ sflmmwwi atent 1 Nov. 29, 1927.

STATES HENRY A. DREFFEIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING AND 'IREATIN'G GAS.

Application filed September 30, 1922. Serial No. 591,432.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for producing gas and has for an object to provide an apparatus of that character, by the use of which a substantially clean, low-moisture content producer gas may be generated and delivered to the burners.

One object consists in the provision of a new and improved high resistance scrubber,

especially adapted for use in such apparatus.

Other objects will be more specifically set forth and described in the following specification and shown in the v accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a apparatus embodying my invention and capable of carrying out my improved process;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, portions thereof being shownin elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse section, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings.

It has been found in the generation of producer gas, especially where coke is used, that such oils, tars, or the like, as may remain a part of the coke or be associated therewith, together with the dust present or ash resulting from the generation of the gas, coact to form a paste which tends to deposit upon the surface of such extractors as may be used and upon the surfaces of the material in such scrubbers as may be used, and this paste not only has a tendency to clog and impede the gas passages, but is difficult or impossible to remove, and forms a material objection to the adoption and use of coke-producer systems.

In my improved apparatus, in addition to other elements, I provide a hot scrubber containing particles of coke or the like and of'relatively small size to form or interpose a high resistance to the passage of the pro ducer gas, and also following same, in line of travel of the gas, I provide a relatively larger low resistance cold scrubber contaming coke or other materials. The hot scrubber is designed and constructed to permit removal and replacement from time to time of the coke particles at the point of initial impact by the gas, and this hot scrubber is further so constructed as to provide a maximum of access of the as to the coke used for cleanin In addition, I provide means to recircu ate through the scrubbers the excess of cleaned gas over that required for use, thereby permitting me to maintain a substantially uniform flow of gas through the scrubbers, thus maintaining a substantially uniform resistance in the scrubbers, more particularly the hot scrubber. I also provide a by-pass means for circulating a portion of the gas from the delivery end of the pump or similar element to the intake thereof, which may be used to regulate, within certain limits, the recirculation of excess gas through the scrub- ,bers, should the resistance thereofdue to the deposit of the tarry or other materialsbuild up such an amount that by-passing of the entire portion of the excess gas becomes inadvisable.

In the drawings 10 indicates a producer of conventional construction, having a discharge outlet 10. The type of producer illustrated, and that which I prefer to use with my apparatus. is one in which the air and steam supplied for combustion and gas formation are supplied under sufficient pressure to ensure delivery of the generated gas to and through the outlet 10". This outlet leads to a preliminary settling chamber 11, having a clean-out door: 11 and an upwardly extending vent pipe 11. This chamber is provided with a downwardly extending inlet 11 leading from the outlet of the producer, and presents an interruption to the direct travel of the producer gas as well as providing an expansion chamber, the effect of these features being to cause a preliminary settling or deposit of at least a portion of the dust content, especially the larger particles. From the settling chamber leads a discharge pipe 11 leading to a precleaning or pre-cooling chamber 13, in which are provided spray jets 13 of water. The gas is slightly cooled in this chamber, and a portion of its dust content removed by the action of the spray jets, which fall into the water seal 13", in which is submerged the open end of the chamber 13. Leading from the pre-cleaning chamber is the outlet pipe 13, which leads to the admission chamber 14 of the hot scrubber 14, which I also term the high resistance scrubber. This chamber is provided by the casing 14, open at its lower end, which is submerged in a water seal 14. Extending through the top of the casing 14* is scrubber cylinder 14, in the lower portion of which are provided the vertical slots 14.located around the entire periphery, as shown in Fig. 2. These slots are formed, as shown in Fig. 3, with the sides thereofconverging toward the outside of'the cylinder 14.

At the top of the cylinder 14: is provided a charging hopper having a normally closed bottom closure l4 carried upon the stem 14, with an upward closure 14 slidably carried on the stem and normally in closed position. A counterweight 14 is attached to the stem and serves to maintain the closure 14f 111 closed position. Spray jets 14" are provided in the upper portion of the cylinder, and the latter is charged with particles or small lumps of coke, generally indicated by X, to a point below the spray jets, the bottom of the body of coke resting upon the bottom of water 14 and serving to close the open end of the casing 14", as shown in Fig. 2.

' Fresh coke may be introduced through the charging opening 14' by lifting the closure 14, and when the weight 14* is' raised to deliver the charge into the cylinder the upper closure 14 will close the charging hopper, thus preventing escape of gas from the scrubber. A portion of the coke body may be removed from time to time from the water seal 14 by the use of a hoe or other tool, as will be obvious. Gas flowing into the chamber 14 may circulate around the entire lower periphery of the cylinder 14 and enter through all of the slots 14, or through the bottom of the coke body. The coke particles having sharp edges or projections project into the tapered slots 14", and as the coke is removed from time to time the downward movement of these coke particles or lumps serves to clean the openings 14. Leading from the upper portion of the cylinder 15 the outlet pipe 14?. which leads to a relatively large scrubber 15, comprisin a cylinder 15: containing a coke body 1 above which is provided a plurality of sprays or jets '15". Located above the jets ma be provided a body Z, of shavings, exce sior, or thelike, to, purify the gas finally.

A drain pipe 15 leads from the cylinder 15 adjacent the bottom thereof, to a water sea 16, the pipe being provided with an open lower end submerged in the water of the seal. In the upper portion of the cylinder is a discharge pipe 15, which leads to the intake of the exhauster or impeller 17, of suitable construction, which is provided with a discharge pipe 18 leading to burners or the like. A shut-off valve 18 is rovided in the discharge pipe. Leading rom the pipe 18, between the pump 17 and the valve 18", is a pipe or duct 20, which is in communication with the pre-cooling chamber 13. A pressure-regulating valve 20 is interposed in this pipe.

-When the gas generated and drawn through the scrubbers and other elements of the apparatus is in excess of that being used by the burners and the valve 18' is partially closed, normally this would result in a reduction of the gas drawn throu h the system, with the consequent reduction of velocity of such gas, and a consequent lowering of the resistance provided by the scrubbers to the passage of such gas. By providing the auxiliary or re-circulating pipe 20, such excess of gas is carried back to the system in advance of the scrubbers and is recirculated through the same. This permits operation of the pump at a uniform rate, and results in maintaining a uniform volume flow of gas through the scrubber. The hot scrubber is relatively small and contains small coke lumps or particles, and therefore presents a relatively high resistance to the passage of the gas thcretbrough, which, by increase or potential increase of velocity of the gas, ensures a relatively great impact of the gas upon the particles of coke when the suspended tar. and the like, is in a warm, sticky condition, thus making for greater eflicicncy in the removal of the tar or other objectionable freight of the gas than would ordinarily be the case. By choosing the coke particles of small size this resistance is increased. with consequent increase of purifying effect. The jets 14" may supply hot water. or a small quantity of cold water which will not greatly cool the gas in its passage through this scrubber. since the tar and oily suspended matter deposits more readily while in a warm condition, due to its stickiness. On the other hand conditions in the low resistance scrubber are so maintained that the gas is greatly cooled, in order to reduce the absolute moisture content to a practical minimum. The cool scrubber presents a relatively small resistance to the passage of the gas, and serves finally to clean and cool the same. as mentioned above, the major portion of the dust and tar particles having been removed by the high resistance hot scrubber.

In actual practice I contemplate a pressure drop between the inlet and outlet of the hot scrubber of as much as fifteen inches of water, as contrasted with a drop at'the cold scrubber of only two inches. Leading from the delivery pipe 18 of the pump 17 is a by-pass 21, which leads to the pipe 15?, this pipe being provided with a shut-off valve 21. When this valve is open a portion of the excess gas delivered by the pump 17 willbe circulated from the delivery pipe of the pump to its supply pipe 15. Should the resistance of the hot scrubber become too high, it may be desirable to cut down the amount of excess gas recirculated through the line by the pipe 20, in order to maintain the resistance uniform; and in such event I may use the by-pass 21, which thus provides a means of regulating the amount of recirculated gas on rise of the resistance of the hot. scrubber, which mav result from an accumulation of tar, dust, or the like, on the coke particles.

It will be obvious that my invention is susceptible of modification and improvement; and I do not therefore wish to be restricted to the process or apparatus described in the specification and shown in the drawings, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In apparatus of the class described, a high resistance scrubber comprising a casing. a cylinder having a portion projecting into said casing and spaced from the outer Walls thereof to form a circulating chamber, said cylinder being open at the bottom and containing a supply of coke particles, and means to permit access of gas from said chamber into said cylinder.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a high resistance scrubber comprising a casin a cylinder having a portion projecting into said casing and spaced from the outer walls thereof to form a circulating chamber. said cylinder being open at the bottom and containing a supply of coke particles. and means to permit access of gas from said chamber into said cylinder, said means comprising apertures in the wall of said cylinder.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a high resistance scrubber comprising a casing. a cylinder having a portion projecting into said casing and spaced from the outer walls thereof to form a circulating chamber, said cylinder being open at the bottom and containing a supply of coke particles, and means to permit access of gas from said chamber into said cylinder, said means comprising apertures in the projecting portion of said :ylinder, said apertures having sides converging from the interior of said cylinder to the exterior thereof.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a high resistance scrubber comprising a casing,

a cylinder havinga portion projecting into said casing and spaced from the outer walls thereof to form a circulating chamber, said cylinder being open at the bottom and containing a supply of coke particles, and means to permit access of gas from said chamber into said cylinder, said means comprisin apertures in the projecting portion of sai cylinder, said apertures being elongated and having sides converging from the interior of said cylinder to the exterior thereof.

5. In apparatus of the class described, a high resistance scrubber comprising a casing, a cylinder having a portion projecting into said casing and spaced from the wall thereof to form a circulating chamber, said casing being open at the bottom and projecting into a body of liquid to form a liquid seal, said cylinder being provided with a body of coke particles extending into and partially filling said casing.

6. In apparatus of the class described, a high resistance scrubber comprising a cylinder, said cylinder being open at the'bot tom, a liquid seal coacting with said cylinder to normally prevent escape of gas and to permit withdrawal of scrubbing material therefrom, said cylinder being provided with meansto permit introduction of scrubbing material at the top thereof.

7. In apparatus of the class described, a high resistance scrubber comprising a cylinder, said cylinder being open at the bottom for discharge of scrubbing material, a liquid seal coacting with said cylinder to normally prevent escape of gas therefrom and to permit removal of scrubbing material, said cylinder being further provided with a charg ing opening at the top for the scrubbing material.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

HENRY .A. DREFFEIN. 

